Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Plant Nutrition, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Boron (B) toxicity causes oxidative stress, damaging plant membranes, chloroplasts, proteins, and lipid metabolism, leading to reduced productivity. This study hypothesizes that hydrolyzed keratin (HK) from sheep wool (SW) can mitigate B toxicity. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions with lettuce plants. The experimental subjects included control, HK, boron-toxic conditions (BT), and BT+HK applications. Plant samples were analyzed for weight, B and N concentrations, and relative chlorophyll content. Additionally, the effects of oxidative stress in plants were determined through H2O2 accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activity, and molecular-level changes, which were identified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The HK effectively mitigates the impact of B toxicity on lettuce growth and health. Under normal conditions, HK increased dry weight from 2.46 g to 3.40 g plant−1, and under B toxicity, it raised dry weight to 2.64 g plant−1. HK also enhanced nitrogen concentrations in both inner and outer leaves, while reducing B levels in both leaf types. HK reduced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels, alleviating oxidative stress, and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities, suggesting improved antioxidant defense. The highest chlorophyll content was observed in HK-treated plants, indicating better photosynthesis. FTIR analysis revealed that HK restored structural integrity in carbohydrates, proteins, and cell membranes in the inner leaves, which were altered by B toxicity. These results highlight HK’s potential in enhancing plant growth, nutrient uptake, and oxidative stress management under B-toxicity, while demonstrating the utility of FTIR in identifying molecular-level changes in plants.